Cooling device by vaporization for internal-combustion engines



G. LEVESQUE DU ROSTU COOLING DEVICE BY VAPORIZATION FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 20, 1945 Jan. 11, 1949. 2,453,609

' Leve we alufiosi'u, 3 4 Wigw m 5 Patented Jan. 11, 1949 COOLING DEVICE BY VAPORIZATION FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Georges Levesque du Rostu, Paris, France, as-

signor to Societe Anonyme Andre Citroen, Paris,

France Application July 20, 1945, Serial No. 606,227

. In France July 20, 1942 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires July 20, 1962 The present invention relates to cooling devices for internal combustion engines in which a part of the cooling fiuid is vaporized, condensed and brought back into the cooling circuit, whilst the other part remains in a liquid state in said circuit; this invention more particularly covers the applications of this device to automobile motors.

For the convenience of the description, the cooling fluid shall be designated as water.

The cooling devices by vaporization now in use generally exhibit the following drawbacks:

1. The apparatus in which the separation of the water and the steam is carried out (vaporizer or separator) is heavy and cumbersome.

2. When the vehicle stops, after prolonged running, a more or less important loss of steam or water occurs. In order to obviate these drawbacks, in accordance with the present invention, a single radiator is used fulfilling at the same time the following functions:

Separation of the water and the steam.

Condensation of the steam during the normal running of the motor.

Condensation of the steam--produced when stopping the motor after prolonged runningwithout any mechanical Ventilation device of the radiator core.

This radiator comprises three parts:

(a) An upper-box containing the water and steam separating system,

(b) Radiator tubes withfins,

(c) A lower box containing permanently a water reserve at a lower temperature than that of boiling water under atmospheric pressure (100 0.), with a view to condensing the steam produced when the vehicle stops.

The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically, merely in an indicative manner, a form of embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows the whole of the installation for cooling a motor by vaporization in which the new radiator is used.

Fig. 2 shows the profile in cross-section of this radiator. V

Fig. 3 is a sectional front-view of the same radiator.

Fig. 4 is a variant of the lower box of the radiator.

In Fig. 1, the cooling water circuit of the motor which proceeds along the path indicated by the arrows, comprises the suction. pipe 2 connected with the upper box or chamber 3 of the radiator 7 Claims. (Cl.-123--174) 2 6, the centrifugal pump 1, the outlet pipe 4 of the motor 5.

The steam circuit is entirely located within the radiator 6 in accordance with the arrangement hereinafter to be described.

The circuit for the return of the water condensate, comprises the suction pipe 8 connected with the lower box or water condensate reservoir 9 of the radiator 6, the pump 1 and the delivery pipe Ill connected with box 3.

The radiator core -6 is supposed, in Fig. 1, to be mechanically cooled by the'fan ll actuated by the motor.

The upper box or chamber 3 (Figs. 2 and 3) comprises a connecting pipe 4a at the upper end, to which is connected the pipe 4 and a connecting pipe 2a, at the lower end, to which is connected the pipe 2. The first connection pipe communicates with a hermetic tank 12 provided in the box 3 and comprising a number of openings l3 at its lower side. The two baflles l4 and 15 are arranged along the length ofv the box 3. This box further comprises the filling orifice 23, the connecting pipe for the water condensate pipe l0 and a partition wall 25 closing the watertank 26.

The vertical tubes it of the radiator core 6 are in communication, on the one hand, at their upper end, with the steam chamber ll formed on the side of the tank 26 in box 3, and, on the other hand, at their lower end, with the chamber [8 for the condensate. The latter communicates only with the two connecting pipes l9 connected to the bubbling pipe 20, comprising a number of holes 2|.

The chamber l8 and the pipes l9 and 2|] form the inner members of the lower box or water condensate reservoir 9. This box'furthermore comprises the connecting pipe Bar for the suction pipe 8 of the pump 1, the pipe 22 for letting out the air (air vent) as well as an emptying pipe 24 located at the lowest level.

In Fig. 4, which illustrates a variant of the box 9, the vertical tubes l6 of the radiator are not connected to a chamber l8 as shown in Figs. 2

H and 3, but are merely extended to the proximity of the lower part of the box 9 that is to say under the water level within said box or water condensate reservoir 9.

The apparatus operates as follows:

At the moment when the motor is started, assuming the latter to be cold, the water stands at a certain level in the tank 26 of the box. ,3; its circulation takes place in the direction shown by the arrows, that is, under the action ofthe centrifugal pump I, the water from'pipe 4 enters under pressure the capacity 12, passes through the openings l3 and is then drawn off from the box 3 by the suction of pump L The temperature oft his water progressively but rapidly rises. The air contained in the pip ings and the various members is expelled through the pipes l6, l9 and 20 and finally into the box 9, whence it is let out by the air vent 22;, I

When the temperature of the water reaches 100 C., the internal pressure of the box 3 is maintained at substantially the same value as that of the surrounding atmosphere, in view of the small losses of pressure in the steam circuit; steam is evolved by the expansion of the W ter under pressure through the openings l'3 and it draws along with it a certain amount of Water. The separation of the water and the steam'is carried out by the circulation of the fluid through the baflles l4 and I5, and, finally, it is dry saturated steam which collects at the upper part of the steam chamber I1, Condensation takes place during the passage through the tubes I6 oi the radiator core, the condensate flowing down by gravity.

If a first run be n mad Or nall empty box 9 fills gradually with water of conden'sation up. to the level of the suction pipe 8. This water bf condensation passes through the holes 2| of the horizontal pipe 20. I his' level of water of condensation remains constant during the whole of the operation, the output oi the um 1 be ar t an the, fle ater o condensation,' andthis level is finally maintained n dur st e- T e red f te qie s 9 de erm ne that the water of condensation is maintained, in the most unfavorable case for cooling, at a temperature d s in o r h n 10 Und r se qnd tions, when the motor stops, suddenly, as there is no longer any cause tor the ventilation oi the core, live steam is discharged from the cooling circuit, passes without any appreciable condensa; tion through the vertical tubes {6 of the radiator core, then bubbles in the warm water contained n 3 P CQuE the holes This, warm w e undergoes a: correlative rise in temperature, depending on the one hand, on, its mass, and on the, other hand, on its initial temperature. 'I 'hese two factors have been chosen so that, in the most uniavorable case, the f nal temperature remains h wever below 100. C. Under these conditions, there can be no. cause for the loss of steam through the air vent 22.

After a renewed start, the temperature of the water of condensation decreases and becomes stabilized rapidly to the initial lower value. This water of condensation, drawn in at 8, is dis; charged by the pump 1 into the pipe l0, where it is recirculated in the circuit of the. I.

In the, modification shown in Fig, 4, the hubbling of the steam, in case of stoppage, directly carried out at the end of the tubes l6 which den ed we he a ro eend nsati The e iiv of e l e b 9 o t e, radia e: has; s n'me 'e ifiiqi ni a a y a e a drawing oiT or water, due for example to a sud: den stoppage, is. transferred to, said box without the air vent opening 22 being drowned. The return to the normal level in box 9 occurs rapidly within the first moments which follow a new start.

comprising a water condensate reservoir, an upper chamber, vertical tubes communicating at their lower ends with said water condensate resoi a d. t their p e ends with s i upper chamber, said upper chamber being divided by above said tubes, and a water chamber, this lattercommunicating by means of connecting pipes respectively with the water circuit of the ha aim s m nve i n and des re t seem bizhsit rs'Eatent s;

q qliee ev se tar iemel cqtih isi qp. 11: glass. y w re-rati n a a m pher c pressure,

motor and with said water condensate reservoir, a hermetic tank within said water chamber, said hermetic tanh communicating with a connecting pipe for the water from the motor and being provided with openings communicating with said water chamber.

Cooling device for internal combustion en- 'gineslby evaporation at atmospheric pressure,

comprising a water condensate reservoir, an upper chamber, vertical tubes opening at their lower ends below the water level within said water condensate reservoir and at their upper ends with said upper chamber, said upper chamber being divided by baflles into a steam chamber arranged directly above said tubes, and a waterchamber, thi le e mmuniq by m an of m en ing pipes leading respectively to the water circuit or the motor and from said water condensate reservoir, the connecting branch with said water condensate reservoir being arranged at a determined level of the water within said water condens e reserve? a h rmet c t k i h n s Water membe s id. herme c ank communi atmg wit a n e in pe or the. wate r the motor and being provided with openings come muniqeting th. ai Water Qh mbee qe l e d vi e to; in erna cqmwst q e gings by ll q f l at a m s her c PIQ SER comprising a water condensate reservoir-,1 an up,- D l. ch mbe afl e di id g ai u e h m int a am hamb a d e'we me er er ti a bes m nic i at th i ow en s with said water condensate reservoin and. at their upper ends with said steam chamber, a pipe leading water from said waterchamber to the water circuit of the motor, a pump on this pipe, a hermetic tank within said water chamber, a pipe leading water from the water circuit of the motor to, said hermetic tank, openings establishing a communication between said water chamber and said hermetic tank, a pipe-.line connecting said Water cham nd, s d Water conden re e r nd; a 11 .1 .1 .19 Q i his -l n 4. Cooling device for internal, combustion en i es by evap ion, a atmqsnheri l Pr ssu q ii r sine a t r cenqen e e es rvo vid n q an er part an a lower ar said u er en low par s e n pe os d an er r m,- b r di by a fles. nt a s eam ch e and a Water chamber. verti a tub s commu i a n at the r we s it i up er a of sa water condensate reservoir and at, their, upper ends. t a steam. c am er conne i Pines a ing item e q m sa pp rt of s water eq d n a e rese vqi ndo e n be: low the water level within said lower part of 'said water condensate reservoir, a pipe-line connecting said lower part of said water condensate res: ervoir and said water chamber, a pump, on this pipe-line, a pipe for water from said water cha n: her to the water circuit of the motor, a, pump, on this pipe, a hermetic tank within said water chant; 9 1 3+ Pi lq aqil W342?! -XQ JJW 2 .3 afi FIF'Q FQ he. mitersaid et c ta e. awnin ten: an a d w ter; chambe 5. A cooling device as defined in claim 3 wherein said water condensate reservoir is provided with an air vent and an emptying pipe.

6. A cooling device as defined in claim 4 Wherein said lower part of said water condensate reservoir is provided with an air vent and an emptying pipe.

7 A cooling device as defined in claim 4 wherein said connecting pipes leading from the bottom of said upper part of said water condensate reservoir and opening below the water level within said lower part of said water condensate reservoir comprise vertical pipes connected to a horizontal bubbling pipe which is arranged below the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,658,934 Muir Feb. 14, 1928 1,678,484 Rushmore July 24, 1928 1,690,703 Rushmore Nov. 6, 1928 

